PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 22144, 26 September 1935, Page 16

PAN-AMERICAN AIRWAYS

AUCKLAND THE M.Z. TERMINAL [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 25. The proposals of the Pan-American Airways have been exhaustively examined by the technical officers of the Government and by the Minister of Finance, Mr Coates, who conducted the negotiations on behalf of_ the Government. During the negotiations an explanation of the scheme was sent to London by the Government, and a reply was not received until the beginning or last week. In view of the contents of this communication, Mr Coates informed Mr Gatty that the signature of the memorandum would have to be deferred. Efforts were made to bring the negotiations to a conclusion before Mr Gatty’s departure for Honolulu, but this was not achieved. The fact that negotiations were m progress was known to very few, for Mr Gatty preferred not to announce the purpose of his visit until it had been achieved. Prior to his departure he expressed great disappointment that he was compelled to leave New Zealand without completing his mission, and he remarked that the delay might seriously prejudice the whole project, for if New Zealand could not grant the very modest requirements of his principals they might turn their attention to alternative plans. Discussing the proposed Pacific air service to-dav, the Minister of Transport (Mr Coatesl said that when he passed through the United States on his return from England he discussed with the principals of the Pan-American Airways their plans to extend the Pacific service to New Zealand. “We are keenly interested in the proposals that are being made, and isolated as we are we are anxious to improve our communications,” he said. 'AUCKLAND. September 25. It was reported from Wellington today that Mr Harold Gatty favoured Wellington as the terminal for the proposed Pacific air service on account of the depth of water close in to the land and the large area of sheltered water available. It can, however, be stated definitely that Auckland will be_ the New Zealand terminal, and should it he necessary at any time to make a landing elsewhere because of unsuitable weather conditions on the Waitemata. the machines will go to the Bay of Islands.